ISIS Is Consolidating Control In A Crucial Iraqi Province

From a photo collection released by ISIS, showing the group's presence in Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar.The Long War JournalRamadi is currently being besieged by the Islamic State. The jihadist group is said to control 60 percent of the city. The southern districts of Al Tam'im, Mua'almim, Thubat, and 5 Kilo, in addition to the 7 Kilo and Albu Aytha areas west and north of the city are either contested or under Islamic State control. Iraqi security forces are said to be concentrated at the Anbar Operations Command Center, which is north of the Euphrates River.

The Iraqi military claimed yesterday that it repelled an assault by the Islamic State. Several days ago, the military announced that it was preparing to launch an operation to clear the jihadist group from Ramadi. However, the military has suffered setback after setback in Anbar over the past two months.

Recent gains by the Islamic State in Anbar province

The Islamic State has had success in consolidating its control of much of Anbar during an offensive over the past two months.

A man walks past a damaged building in the Anbar province town of Hit on Oct. 6, 2014. Reuters Most recently, on Oct. 2, the Islamic State took control of Hit, which is just west of Ramadi. A member of the Anbar provincial council has been quoted by Reuters saying that, "ninety percent of Hit has been overrun by militants."

Witnesses reported that "scores" of heavily armed fighters are patrolling the town and the Islamic State's black flag is flying over several government buildings, including the mayor's office and the police station. Two days after Hit fell, the Islamic State occupied a military base outside of the city that was abandoned by Iraqi troops.

Also this week, the Islamic State assassinated the top police commander for Anbar province via a roadside bomb attack in a village that is home to the anti-jihadist Awakening in Ramadi. General Ahmad Sadak al Dulaymi, Anbar's police chief, was patrolling the village of Albu Risha when the Islamic State targeted his convoy with two IEDs, or improvised explosive devices, earlier today. The police general and three bodyguards were killed in the attack.

From a photo collection released by ISIS, showing the group's presence in Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar.The Long War JournalThe Iraqi military in Anbar province is currently in disarray. The Iraqi Army has moved in units from outside of Anbar after the Islamic State rendered most of the 7th Division, which is based in the province, combat ineffective.

Some of the replacement units, including armored battalions form the 8th Mechanized Division, have been routed in subsequent fighting. Additionally, the government has deployed Shia militias in the overwhelmingly Sunni province in an attempt to bolster the beleaguered Iraqi military and police units.

The Islamic State has been able to operate freely and effectively in this area despite US and coalition airstrikes against the group in Anbar province. Since Aug. 7, when airstrikes by the US-led coalition in Iraq began, the US has launched 52 airstrikes against the Islamic State in Anbar province, according to data compiled by The Long War Journal and Qualitative Military Edge. These airstrikes have helped the Iraqi military to defend the Haditha Dam, but were ineffective in preventing Hit or areas in and around Ramadi from falling to the Islamic State.